(Welcome to Movie Mixtape, where we find cinematic relatives and seek out interesting connections between new releases and older movies that allow us to rethink and enjoy what’s in our theaters as well as the favorites on our shelf. In this edition: The Mummy.)

It’s difficult to overstate how popular mummy movies have been over the years. From 1932 to today, every few decades, a new mummy craze would lift its ragged head from the tomb to shock and amaze before slinking back off into the shadows.

Boris Karloff and Universal definitely capitalized on it, but they have Nefertiti to thank. The discovery of her bust in 1912 kicked off modern Egyptomania, which was sustained by the further discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922. Tabloids fabricated and twisted a “Mummy’s Curse” into existence, which became the basis for the first wildly popular film, as well as the foothold for dozens of films over the next century. Tom Cruise leads the next installment, which promises to be the first in an extended Dark Universe when it hits theaters this Friday. Tough luck, Brendan Fraser. There’s a new kid in town. Who’s pretty old.

While we see if Universal can bring mummies back to life, let’s look at some other movies to bring out of the crypt.

It’s difficult at this point for me to reconcile the directorial work of Luc Besson with his endless string of writing and producing projects. I’m still trying to wash the taste of From Paris with Love out of my mouth, and then a new teaser trailer for The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec drops in my lap. Looking at this, I wonder if Besson still has it, at least when he’s fully committed to a film as a director.

Watch the new clip after the break, and try to make some prediction as to whether the film will be a grand continental adventure in the Indiana Jones mold, or just another exercise in style over substance. Read More »

A little bit Indiana Jones, a little bit Tintin and a little bit Hellboy – and Euroapcorp, should you wish, you can have that tagline for your poster.

Luc Besson is moving fast on his new film Les Aventures Extrodinaire d’Adele Blanc-Sec (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec, but likely to be just Adele Blanc-Sec when it crosses the Atlantic). From the various bits and pieces of info I can gather, Besson started shooting in Mid August and is now heading into post production for release in France on April 14 next year.

I’ll reprise the first poster and share the plot, cast and plot details after the break.